WEMPEC News

C-Motive Technologies, a Madison startup company founded by WEMPEC Ph.D. candidates Justin Reed, Micah Erickson and Ph.D. graduate Dan Ludois, won the Global Stewards Sustainability Prize (GSSP) on Monday April 16th. The GSSP recognizes students whose work promotes environmentally sustainable practices for products, processes, and humanitarian efforts. Teammates Justin and Micah presented C-Motive’s work at the 6th Annual Nelson Institute Earth Day Conference and were awarded prizes totaling $17,000.

Soon after, on April 27th, the C-Motive team pulled in Second Place for $6,000 at the G. Steven Burrill Business Plan Competition, in collaboration with MBA student Brett Hoerz. C-Motive was also voted the most “incubator-ready” team, receiving a 1-year lease on incubator space in the Metro Innovation Center in Madison, valued at $15,000. The Burrill Competition rewards student teams for writing comprehensive business plans to bring their innovative ideas and/or products to market.

C-Motive has developed proprietary motor and generator technologies using electrodynamic fields to miniaturize synchronous machine brushless exciters and reduce their cost. The trio is pursuing additional private, state, and federal funds to demonstrate the commercial viability of their technology. C-Motive is currently a finalist in the Wisconsin Governor’s Business Plan Contest and will present their business plan at the Wisconsin Entrepreneurs’ Conference in Milwaukee.